Mountain Lake, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Mountain Lake, Cottonwood County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Mountain Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 54 days in the Cottonwood forecast zone and Cottonwood County — the most common reported hazard around Mountain Lake, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (51 days) and blizzards (40 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 54 | Nov 2025 | Apr 9, 2013 · $10 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 51 | Jun 2026 | Jun 27, 2003 · $1.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 40 | Mar 2026 | Apr 11, 2019 · $380,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 39 | Feb 2025 | — |
| High winds | 36 | Mar 2026 | Jan 22, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 36 | Jul 2024 | Jun 21, 2024 · $21 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 19 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Jul 2022 | Sep 22, 2010 · $50,000 damage |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996–2026 (the latest year is partial). A "day" is a date with at least one report in the Cottonwood forecast zone and Cottonwood County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Mountain Lake get?
A normal year brings about 44 inches of snow to Mountain Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Windom weather station 10.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (9.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 5.2 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 9.0 | 7.3 | 4.2 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Mountain Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 92 miles northeast. Radar beams climb as they travel, so the height of the lowest scan over town decides how low in a storm the radar can see.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Mountain Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 92 mi northeast | 8,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 93 mi west-southwest | 8,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 164 mi south-southeast | 21,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
Beam height is the center of the 0.5° scan above the radar, with standard refraction. Mountains near a radar can block it further.
Tornado & hail history near Mountain Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 69 tornadoes within 25 miles of Mountain Lake, 10 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and August. The strongest was an F4 on March 29, 1998, which passed about 11 miles north-northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on August 5, 2024, which touched down about 12 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 227 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 17 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on September 10, 1986.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center — tornadoes 1950–2025, hail 1955–2025. Distances are to each tornado's track; ratings before February 2007 use the original Fujita scale.
On TALON you get Mountain Lake's live radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks with arrival times and NWS warnings free; close-up radar and rotation detection are part of TALON Pro.
Mountain Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Mountain Lake, MN?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 92 miles northeast. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 93 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Mountain Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Mountain Lake the lowest scan from KMPX is about 8,500 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Mountain Lake free?
Yes — the US radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and NWS warnings are free in any browser. Close-up radar, rotation detection and longer forecasts are part of TALON Pro.
Should I rely on radar for my safety?
No app replaces official warnings. When the National Weather Service issues a warning for Mountain Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Windom, MN radar 11 mi
- St. James, MN radar 15 mi
- Springfield, MN radar 21 mi
- Lakefield, MN radar 22 mi
- Jackson, MN radar 22 mi
- Sherburn, MN radar 22 mi
- Truman, MN radar 26 mi
- Madelia, MN radar 26 mi
- Sleepy Eye, MN radar 27 mi
- Fairmont, MN radar 31 mi